2 dead, 19 hurt after small plane crashes into California building

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Craig Nigrelli Anchor

By Craig Nigrelli (Anchor), Brock Koller (Senior Producer), Shea Taylor (Producer), Kaleb Gillespie (Video Editor)

A small plane crashed into the roof of a commercial building in Fullerton, California, killing two people and injuring 19 others Thursday, Jan. 2. Authorities said the crash occurred shortly after 2 p.m. PST, about half a mile from the Fullerton Municipal Airport.

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The Fullerton Police Department said the plane struck the building, which housed a furniture manufacturing company, sparking a four-alarm fire. First responders evacuated the surrounding area as firefighters worked to contain the blaze.

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The crash injured 19 people inside the building. Paramedics transported 11 people to the hospital for their injuries and treated eight victims at the scene.

Authorities confirmed the two people killed were likely aboard the aircraft. The identities of the deceased are pending notification of next of kin, according to the Orange County Coroner’s Office.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identified the aircraft as a single-engine Van’s RV-10. Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the incident, with the NTSB taking the lead.

Images and video from the scene showed plumes of black smoke rising from the building. Witnesses described the chaotic scene as first responders arrived and began evacuating the area.

Fullerton Mayor Fred Jung released a statement expressing gratitude for the efforts of first responders and solidarity with those affected.

“As we come together in the wake of this tragedy, the city of Fullerton is committed to providing support for all those affected and working with the agencies involved to uncover the details of this incident,” Jung said.

He praised the community’s strength and compassion during the crisis.

Fullerton, a city of approximately 140,000 residents, is about 30 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The crash drew a significant response from federal investigators and local officials.